Balanoposthitis is the inflammation of the glans penis and the foreskin in uncircumsized males. The word was coined from two roots and an affix: Gk βαλανος (balanos; cf. L glans, glandis, Russian жёлудь (zhjolud') 'acorn; glans penis' fr. PIE *gwel- 'oak'), Gk ποσθη (posthe) 'membrum virile; prepuce', -itis ISV 'inflammation of'. May be caused by phimosis, or an abnormal tightness of the foreskin preventing retraction over the glans. Phimosis is from Gk φιμωσις (phimosis) 'muzzling, silencing; stopping up of an orifice; contraction of the prepuce' fr φιμος (phimos) 'muzzle'.

I meant to mention that a couple of historical characters are associated with phimosis: Louis XVI and Charles Guiteau (Garfield's assassin). Louis married Marie Antoinette when he was 15 and she 14. The marriage remained unconsummated until 7 years later owing to a genital deformation, usually considered phimosis, which was however corrected with minor surgery, perhaps circumcision.

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